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Growing confidence: Language skills polished with Cakap edtech
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A teacher from the Cakap edtech platform delivers lessons to students in Maumere, Sikka regency, East Nusa Tenggara.
Y
osep Siga, 43, looked enthusiastic during the final session of the specialized Saturday afternoon English-language class, focusing on vacation planning and cultural exhibitions, provided by teachers from the Cakap edtech platform. Yosep, who works as a tour guide, was keen to learn, from the first online session class until the final in-class session held at a hotel in Maumere, Sikka regency, East Nusa Tenggara.
"Before taking this course, I felt like I lacked confidence and couldn't converse in English at all. After completing the course, I can confidently communicate with foreigners," said Yosep about the impact he felt after participating in the English-language class tailored to specific needs. This program is a collaborative initiative between the Communications and Information Ministry and Cakap.
Other students with similar professional backgrounds or education in the field of tourism, spanning a diverse range of ages, attended along with Yosep. This included vocational high school (SMK) graduates, newcomers in the hotel sector and micro, small and medium-sized enterprise (MSME) workers, including experienced tour guides like Yosep. This serves as evidence that the learning process knows no age limits and is often referred to as lifelong learning.
Basofi Hadiyanto, Cakap’s teacher during the program, revealed that students showed enthusiasm and significant learning progress. “Previously, our students had limited English proficiency due to interactions with foreign tourists. After attending the Cakap classes, they gained knowledge for more structured conversations within a broader context,” stated Basofi.
The course had 15 sessions,13 of which were conducted online, culminating in a practical exam overseen by Cakap's instructors. During the exam, students practiced the materials they had learned, ranging from writing to conversation skills. Cakap provided certificates to all students, serving as evidence of their proficiency in specific foreign language skills, which can be beneficial in honing their foreign language abilities, particularly English, to support the work of participants/students, a majority of whom are involved in the tourism sector.
The program lasted for three months, featuring a syllabus covering various topics relevant to tourism sector workers. This included conversation skills for welcoming guests and self-introduction, introducing tourist destinations and explaining customs and traditional foods. The program specifically targeted regions with high tourism potential, such as Sikka regency and North Lombok regency, in West Nusa Tenggara.
The two targeted regencies have abundant tourism potential and attractions frequently visited by tourists, especially international ones. This includes the three Gili Islands (Air, Meno, Trawangan), contributing 80 percent of North Lombok regency's regional income (PAD) according to Statistics Indonesia (BPS) data in 2019. Meanwhile, Sikka regency, located on Flores Island, boasts various potential attractions ranging from beaches and mountains to religious tourism.
Awales Syukur, head of the Communication and Information Department of Sikka regency, acknowledges the lack of foreign language skills among tourism practitioners in the region. Therefore, learning foreign languages, especially English, is essential for those involved in tourism. "Our current need is for those in tourism and MSMEs. Proficiency in English is required for communicating with foreign tourists visiting Sikka regency," concluded Awales.
BPS data from 2020-2022 indicates a significant increase in both domestic and international tourist visits to Sikka. In 2020, the total number of tourists reached 14,455, then increased to 21,333 in 2021, and almost doubled in 2022 to 41,733 tourists. This underscores the necessity for an improvement in tourism human resources, including proficiency in foreign languages, becoming a priority.
